麻豆社

An omnibus edition of Professor Sunil Khilnani's audio portraits of figures who have shaped Indian history over two thousand years. Today's programme focuses on four medieval poets whose influence continues to the present day.

The first is Amir Khusro, a 13th century warrior, prisoner of war, court poet and passionate Sufi devotee. A quick-witted literary survivor whose words would endure for 700 years, he described himself as 'The Parrot of India'. We also explore the life of Kabir. Born in India's holiest city, Benares, of a low-caste weaver's family, Kabir was a provoker whose poems and actions challenged religious orthodoxies.

Another poet established one of the great world religions: Guru Nanak, the 15th century founder of Sikhism. At its core, his religion was based on Discplined Worldliness - living and witnessing your faith within the world, rather than retreating from it.

Sunil Khinani's last subject is Mirabai, a Rajput princess who became a wandering religious singer devoted to the Hindu god Krishna. She composed many songs or bhajans which have been passed down through the centuries by oral tradition. Today some see Mirabai as a potent symbol of feminism, others as a passionate religious inspiration.

Producer: Jeremy Grange.